Monday, May 13, 2013

Mel Stabin workshop: last day

(15x30)
From one of Mel's fabulous reference photos. I just loved this woman's face. I have to lift some from the eye that's in shadow (it's too dark) and work on her left shoulder/clavicle area a bit (and I should've softened the v of her shawl) ... There are problems, but I like face, especially the lips.
Mel's demonstration--he painted one of the workshoppers--was a revelation. He did a big, loose, wet wash ... then somehow pulled, with the minimum of strokes possible, details from it. In the case of the painting above, after his demo, I realized what I had to concentrate on not losing was the light on the cheek and nose... and I think those highlights really make it.

Below: based on a reference from Paint My Photo. The face is not like the girl's in the photo's, but I like my girl's expression: she looks determined.

I don't usually paint people, but every time I do, I want to do more; faces are just endlessly fascinating.

I do love the face in profile, from the paint-my-photo. The first example you showed is quite lovely, and I don't see what it is you think you need to change on the face (in any case, does the instructor give you help in how to lift without spoiling such delicate and loose washes?). The ONLY issue I see is, as you said, the V-point where the ends of the shawl meet, that draws the eye downward out of the painting. The cropped version is perfection!

Beautiful faces and I love the last one - the clean lines add to her look of determination. Don't change a thing! So much right with the top one, too, although you see the things that need to be fixed. I enjoyed seeing all of your workshop work.